World Bank Projects Crisis Food Security in Seven Nigerian States Due to Insecurity and Armed Conflicts

The latest Food Security report by the World Bank has highlighted the precarious situation facing several states in Nigeria, particularly in the North-west and North-east regions, due to insecurity and armed conflicts. The report projects that seven states, including Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara, will be at crisis food security levels in 2024, primarily due to persistent insecurity and deteriorating livelihoods.

In addition to Nigeria, the report also predicts varying degrees of food insecurity in other West African countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger. It forecasts that most areas in West and Central Africa will remain minimally food insecure (IPC Phase 1) until May 2024, with some areas categorized as stressed IPC 2. However, Nigeria’s far north, including the highlighted states, is expected to face crisis food security levels (IPC Phase 3) due to ongoing insecurity and armed conflict.

The report further highlights specific areas in Northeastern Nigerian states, such as Abadam, Bama, Guzamala, Marte, which are projected to experience emergency food security levels (IPC Phase 4) due to limited household food stock and restricted access to markets and humanitarian aid.

In terms of global trends, the report notes that over 63.2% of low-income countries have experienced inflation levels exceeding 5%, marking a significant increase compared to previous updates. It also highlights that in 71% of the 165 countries surveyed, food price inflation has outpaced overall inflation, indicating the severity of the food crisis.

The report’s findings align with recent developments in Nigeria, where food prices have soared, leading to increased hardship for many. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that food inflation is over 33%. Additionally, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has warned that around 5 million Nigerians are at risk of hunger in 2024, while the United Nations (UN) has reported that approximately 78% of Africans have been unable to afford a nutritious diet since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Despite efforts by the government, including the declaration of a food insecurity emergency by President Tinubu and its elevation to the National Security Council, little impact has been seen as food prices continue to rise. This has led to protests in Niger state over rising food prices and hunger across the state.

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